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Rwanda has quietly accepted seven migrants deported under the Trump administration’s program to send people to countries they have no ties to, confirmed Yolande Makolo, a government spokesperson. The group arrived earlier this month but received no public announcement at the time.
Authorities have not disclosed the deportees’ identities, nationalities, or locations, nor indicated whether any have criminal records. According to Makolo, United Nations officials and Rwandan social services are visiting the deportees. Three of them wish to return home, while four others “wish to stay and build lives in Rwanda.”
Rwanda is the third African nation, after South Sudan and Eswatini, to accept deportees under secretive arrangements with Washington. In early August, Makolo signaled that Rwanda was prepared to take in migrants as part of the deal. At the time, it announced it would take up to 250 deportees but did not specify when they would arrive.
Meanwhile, Uganda agreed to a “temporary” deal with the Trump administration to accept migrants removed from the U.S., subject to conditions about criminals and unaccompanied minors. The U.S. has indicated plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case has drawn attention, to Uganda.
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Like other countries participating in the program, Uganda has not disclosed terms of its arrangement or potential benefits for accepting deportees. African nations may receive various incentives for cooperating with the Trump administration, according to the Associated Press.
More African nations could sign up to facilitate deportations as a third country if the administration continues its hard-line deportation plans.
